Question 1

Nuclear fission: In the fission reaction  U + neutron →  Ba +  Kr + x neutrons, what is the number x of neutrons produced?

Accepted Answer

A)  0 
B)  4 
C)  1 
D)  3 
E)  2

Question 2

Nuclear reactions: A proton strikes an  O nucleus producing  F and another particle. What is the other particle?

Accepted Answer

A)  a neutron 
B)  an alpha particle 
C)  a β- particle 
D)  a β+ particle 
E)  a gamma ray

Question 3

Nuclear binding energy: How much energy is released when 1.40 μg of 3H have decayed to 3He? The mass of 3He is 3.016029 u, the mass of 3H is 3.016049 u, and 1 u = 931.494 MeV/c2.

Accepted Answer

A)  830 J 
B)  11,900 J 
C)  7970 J 
D)  71,700 J 
E)  23,900 J

Question 4

Nuclear fission: Which of the following descriptions best describes the process by which energy is released in a conventional nuclear reactor?

Accepted Answer

A)  The radiation given off by a naturally radioactive substance, uranium, is collected and used to make steam. 
B)  Uranium is reacted with oxygen in a combustion process that releases large amounts of radioactivity and heat. 
C)  Deuterium and tritium are joined together to form helium. 
D)  Uranium, when bombarded by neutrons, splits into fragments and releases two or three neutrons, and these neutrons in turn strike more uranium nuclei that split, thereby setting off a chain reaction that releases energy. 
E)  A uranium nucleus is energized to an excited state by neutron irradiation, and it then decays by emitting beta rays and gamma rays that heat water and create steam.

Question 5

Radioactivity: The stability of  Fe with respect to alpha, β+, and β- decay is to be determined. Do not consider the possibility of decay by electron capture. The following atomic masses are known:  He: 4.002603 u  Cr: 51.944768 u  Mn: 55.938907 u  Fe: 55.934939 u  Co: 55.939841 u The  Fe nuclide is

Accepted Answer

A)  not subject to alpha, β+, or β- decay. 
B)  subject to alpha decay only. 
C)  subject to β+decay only. 
D)  subject to β- decay only. 
E)  subject to β+ or β- decay, but not to alpha decay.

Question 6

Radioactivity: A radioactive atom has 98 protons and 249 nucleons. If it undergoes alpha decay, what are the number of protons and nucleons, respectively, in the daughter nucleus?

Accepted Answer

A)  100, 245 
B)  94, 247 
C)  96, 245 
D)  96, 247 
E)  100, 249

Question 7

Nuclear reactions: For the missing product X in the nuclear reaction
neutron +  O → X + alpha particle
determine the atomic mass and atomic number of X, and write X in the standard form. It is NOT necessary to identify which atom X is.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Nuclear reactions: For the missing product X...

Question 8

Radioactivity: If a nucleus decays by β- decay to a daughter nucleus, which of the following statements about this decay are correct? (There may be more than one correct choice.)

Accepted Answer

A)  The daughter nucleus has more protons than the original nucleus. 
B)  The daughter nucleus has more neutrons than the original nucleus. 
C)  The daughter nucleus has the same number of nucleons as the original nucleus. 
D)  The daughter nucleus has fewer protons than the original nucleus. 
E)  The daughter nucleus has fewer neutrons than the original nucleus.

Question 9

Radioactive decay: How many days are required for a radioactive sample, with a half-life of 5.7 d and an initial activity of 1.07 × 105 Bq, to decay to an activity of 100 Bq?

Accepted Answer

A)  57 d 
B)  46 d 
C)  68 d 
D)  39 d

Question 10

Radioactivity: If a nucleus decays by β+ decay to a daughter nucleus, which of the following statements about this decay are correct? (There may be more than one correct choice.)

Accepted Answer

A)  The daughter nucleus has more protons than the original nucleus. 
B)  The daughter nucleus has more neutrons than the original nucleus. 
C)  The daughter nucleus has the same number of nucleons as the original nucleus. 
D)  The daughter nucleus has fewer protons than the original nucleus. 
E)  The daughter nucleus has fewer neutrons than the original nucleus.

Question 11

Properties of the nucleus: Two identical nuclei of mass 18 u are made to unite to make a single nucleus of mass 36 u. What is the radius of the result of this fusion?

Accepted Answer

A)  4.0 fm 
B)  6.3 fm 
C)  4.5 fm 
D)  7.2 fm

Question 12

Nuclear fusion: Calculate the amount of energy that is released in the fusion reaction 2H + 2H → 4He, given the masses: 2H: 2.014102 u
4He: 4.002603 u
(1 u = 931.5 MeV/c2)

Accepted Answer

A)  24 MeV 
B)  18 MeV 
C)  13 MeV 
D)  12 MeV 
E)  36 MeV

Question 13

Radioactivity: Scandium,  Sc, decays by emitting a positron. What is the nuclide that is the product of the decay?

Accepted Answer

A)   Sc 
B)   Sc 
C)   Ca 
D)   Ca 
E)   Sc

Question 14

Radioactive decay: What mass of 14C (having a half-life of 5730 years) do you need to provide a decay rate of  (1 u = 1.6605 × 10-27 kg)

Accepted Answer

A)  1.70 × 10-12 kg 
B)  5.38 × 10-19 kg 
C)  3.84 × 10-20 kg 
D)  8.68 × 10-13 kg

Question 15

Radioactive dating: Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5730 y. A sample of wood has been recovered by an archaeologist. The sample is sent to a laboratory, where it is determined that the activity of the sample is 0.144 Bq/g. By comparing this activity with the activity of living organic matter, 0.230 Bq/g, the scientist determines how old the wood sample is, or more precisely, when the tree that the sample came from died. How old is the sample of wood?

Accepted Answer

A)  3870 y 
B)  4250 y 
C)  4590 y 
D)  2630 y 
E)  2940 y

Question 16

Radioactive decay: The decay rate of an isotope is initially R0, but after one half-life has gone by, the rate is R0/2. At the end of the NEXT half-life, what will the decay rate be?

Accepted Answer

A)  0 
B)  R0/16 
C)  R0/e 
D)  R0/4 
E)  R0/e2

Question 17

Nuclear fusion: A fusion reaction releases energy because the binding energy of the resulting nucleus

Accepted Answer

A)  is greater than the binding energy of the original nuclei. 
B)  is equal to the binding energy of the original nuclei. 
C)  is less than the binding energy of the original nuclei. 
D)  is released in the process. 
E)  is absorbed in the process.

Question 18

Radioactive decay: The half-life of cobalt-60 is 5.3 years, while that of strontium-90 is 28 years. Suppose you have a sample of each, such that they initially contain equal numbers of atoms of these nuclides. How will the activities (number of decays per second) of the samples compare?

Accepted Answer

A)  The activity of the cobalt-60 sample will be greater. 
B)  The activities cannot be compared without more information. 
C)  The activities will be equal. 
D)  The activity of the strontium-90 sample will be greater.

Question 19

Radioactive decay: A radioactive sample has a half-life of 10 min. What fraction of the sample is left after 40 min?

Accepted Answer

A)  1/2 
B)  1/4 
C)  1/8 
D)  1/16 
E)  1/32

Question 20

Nuclear fusion: Consider the fusion reaction H + H + H → He + H + n The atomic masses are: H: 2.01410 u He: 4.00260 u H, 1.00783 u n: 1.008665 u What mass of deuterium fuel, H, is used up in producing 8.2 × 10¹³ J of energy by this reaction? (1u = 1.6605 × 10^-27 kg = 931.5 MeV/c²)

Accepted Answer

The answer of Nuclear fusion: Consider the fusion reaction ...

Exam 34: Geometric Optics

Nuclear fission: In the fission reaction U + neutron → Ba + Kr + x neutrons, what is the number x of neutrons produced?

Nuclear reactions: A proton strikes an O nucleus producing F and another particle. What is the other particle?

Nuclear binding energy: How much energy is released when 1.40 μg of ³H have decayed to ³He? The mass of ³He is 3.016029 u, the mass of ³H is 3.016049 u, and 1 u = 931.494 MeV/c².

Nuclear fission: Which of the following descriptions best describes the process by which energy is released in a conventional nuclear reactor?

Radioactivity: The stability of Fe with respect to alpha, β⁺, and β^-decay is to be determined. Do not consider the possibility of decay by electron capture. The following atomic masses are known: He: 4.002603 u Cr: 51.944768 u Mn: 55.938907 u Fe: 55.934939 u Co: 55.939841 u The Fe nuclide is

Radioactivity: A radioactive atom has 98 protons and 249 nucleons. If it undergoes alpha decay, what are the number of protons and nucleons, respectively, in the daughter nucleus?

Nuclear reactions: For the missing product X in the nuclear reaction neutron + O → X + alpha particle determine the atomic mass and atomic number of X, and write X in the standard form. It is NOT necessary to identify which atom X is.

Radioactivity: If a nucleus decays by β^-decay to a daughter nucleus, which of the following statements about this decay are correct? (There may be more than one correct choice.)

Radioactive decay: How many days are required for a radioactive sample, with a half-life of 5.7 d and an initial activity of 1.07 × 10⁵ Bq, to decay to an activity of 100 Bq?

Radioactivity: If a nucleus decays by β⁺ decay to a daughter nucleus, which of the following statements about this decay are correct? (There may be more than one correct choice.)

Properties of the nucleus: Two identical nuclei of mass 18 u are made to unite to make a single nucleus of mass 36 u. What is the radius of the result of this fusion?

Nuclear fusion: Calculate the amount of energy that is released in the fusion reaction ²H + ²H → ⁴He, given the masses: ²H: 2.014102 u ⁴He: 4.002603 u (1 u = 931.5 MeV/c²)

Radioactivity: Scandium, Sc, decays by emitting a positron. What is the nuclide that is the product of the decay?

Radioactive decay: What mass of ¹⁴C (having a half-life of 5730 years) do you need to provide a decay rate of (1 u = 1.6605 × 10^-27 kg)

Radioactive decay: The decay rate of an isotope is initially R₀, but after one half-life has gone by, the rate is R₀/2. At the end of the NEXT half-life, what will the decay rate be?

Nuclear fusion: A fusion reaction releases energy because the binding energy of the resulting nucleus

Radioactive decay: The half-life of cobalt-60 is 5.3 years, while that of strontium-90 is 28 years. Suppose you have a sample of each, such that they initially contain equal numbers of atoms of these nuclides. How will the activities (number of decays per second) of the samples compare?

Radioactive decay: A radioactive sample has a half-life of 10 min. What fraction of the sample is left after 40 min?

Nuclear fusion: Consider the fusion reaction H + H + H → He + H + n The atomic masses are: H: 2.01410 u He: 4.00260 u H, 1.00783 u n: 1.008665 u What mass of deuterium fuel, H, is used up in producing 8.2 × 10¹³ J of energy by this reaction? (1u = 1.6605 × 10^-27 kg = 931.5 MeV/c²)

Exam 34: Geometric Optics

Nuclear fission: In the fission reaction U + neutron → Ba + Kr + x neutrons, what is the number x of neutrons produced?

Nuclear reactions: A proton strikes an O nucleus producing F and another particle. What is the other particle?

Nuclear binding energy: How much energy is released when 1.40 μg of 3H have decayed to 3He? The mass of 3He is 3.016029 u, the mass of 3H is 3.016049 u, and 1 u = 931.494 MeV/c2.

Nuclear fission: Which of the following descriptions best describes the process by which energy is released in a conventional nuclear reactor?

Radioactivity: The stability of Fe with respect to alpha, β+, and β- decay is to be determined. Do not consider the possibility of decay by electron capture. The following atomic masses are known: He: 4.002603 u Cr: 51.944768 u Mn: 55.938907 u Fe: 55.934939 u Co: 55.939841 u The Fe nuclide is

Radioactivity: A radioactive atom has 98 protons and 249 nucleons. If it undergoes alpha decay, what are the number of protons and nucleons, respectively, in the daughter nucleus?

Nuclear reactions: For the missing product X in the nuclear reaction neutron + O → X + alpha particle determine the atomic mass and atomic number of X, and write X in the standard form. It is NOT necessary to identify which atom X is.

Radioactivity: If a nucleus decays by β- decay to a daughter nucleus, which of the following statements about this decay are correct? (There may be more than one correct choice.)

Radioactive decay: How many days are required for a radioactive sample, with a half-life of 5.7 d and an initial activity of 1.07 × 105 Bq, to decay to an activity of 100 Bq?

Radioactivity: If a nucleus decays by β+ decay to a daughter nucleus, which of the following statements about this decay are correct? (There may be more than one correct choice.)

Properties of the nucleus: Two identical nuclei of mass 18 u are made to unite to make a single nucleus of mass 36 u. What is the radius of the result of this fusion?

Nuclear fusion: Calculate the amount of energy that is released in the fusion reaction 2H + 2H → 4He, given the masses: 2H: 2.014102 u 4He: 4.002603 u (1 u = 931.5 MeV/c2)

Radioactivity: Scandium, Sc, decays by emitting a positron. What is the nuclide that is the product of the decay?

Radioactive decay: What mass of 14C (having a half-life of 5730 years) do you need to provide a decay rate of (1 u = 1.6605 × 10-27 kg)

Radioactive decay: The decay rate of an isotope is initially R0, but after one half-life has gone by, the rate is R0/2. At the end of the NEXT half-life, what will the decay rate be?

Nuclear fusion: A fusion reaction releases energy because the binding energy of the resulting nucleus

Radioactive decay: The half-life of cobalt-60 is 5.3 years, while that of strontium-90 is 28 years. Suppose you have a sample of each, such that they initially contain equal numbers of atoms of these nuclides. How will the activities (number of decays per second) of the samples compare?

Radioactive decay: A radioactive sample has a half-life of 10 min. What fraction of the sample is left after 40 min?

Nuclear fusion: Consider the fusion reaction H + H + H → He + H + n The atomic masses are: H: 2.01410 u He: 4.00260 u H, 1.00783 u n: 1.008665 u What mass of deuterium fuel, H, is used up in producing 8.2 × 1013 J of energy by this reaction? (1u = 1.6605 × 10-27 kg = 931.5 MeV/c2)

Nuclear binding energy: How much energy is released when 1.40 μg of ³H have decayed to ³He? The mass of ³He is 3.016029 u, the mass of ³H is 3.016049 u, and 1 u = 931.494 MeV/c².

Radioactivity: The stability of Fe with respect to alpha, β⁺, and β^-decay is to be determined. Do not consider the possibility of decay by electron capture. The following atomic masses are known: He: 4.002603 u Cr: 51.944768 u Mn: 55.938907 u Fe: 55.934939 u Co: 55.939841 u The Fe nuclide is

Radioactivity: If a nucleus decays by β^-decay to a daughter nucleus, which of the following statements about this decay are correct? (There may be more than one correct choice.)

Radioactive decay: How many days are required for a radioactive sample, with a half-life of 5.7 d and an initial activity of 1.07 × 10⁵ Bq, to decay to an activity of 100 Bq?

Radioactivity: If a nucleus decays by β⁺ decay to a daughter nucleus, which of the following statements about this decay are correct? (There may be more than one correct choice.)

Nuclear fusion: Calculate the amount of energy that is released in the fusion reaction ²H + ²H → ⁴He, given the masses: ²H: 2.014102 u ⁴He: 4.002603 u (1 u = 931.5 MeV/c²)

Radioactive decay: What mass of ¹⁴C (having a half-life of 5730 years) do you need to provide a decay rate of (1 u = 1.6605 × 10^-27 kg)

Radioactive decay: The decay rate of an isotope is initially R₀, but after one half-life has gone by, the rate is R₀/2. At the end of the NEXT half-life, what will the decay rate be?

Nuclear fusion: Consider the fusion reaction H + H + H → He + H + n The atomic masses are: H: 2.01410 u He: 4.00260 u H, 1.00783 u n: 1.008665 u What mass of deuterium fuel, H, is used up in producing 8.2 × 10¹³ J of energy by this reaction? (1u = 1.6605 × 10^-27 kg = 931.5 MeV/c²)